Shock absorber



' April 22, 1930. E. FLOOR ET AL sx-ICK ABsoRBER Filedv July 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Eede/575? v lic/72007 f/Zd?" jffjerse/a f i Patented Apr.'22, 1930 Y Y 1,755,290,

STATES @ERICE L w f -One'of the objects of'our `invention isithe lappliedtoY avehicle.

i t ER'IK FLOOR AND `"EJ 1\ uiR .snanrtsiiN, or der oaeo, ILLINorsY I sHooKABsonBEn i Appiicauqanma Ju'1y 5, 1927. seal No. oasos." The present invention relates to'fshocl; I' `drawings' in Which similar characters' of ref-V sorbers forvehlcles and other uses and'is 'erence lndicatesimilar parts throughout the:

' more particularly-concerned W1ththeproseveral^vi evvs.v if vision offa novel shock absorber piston and Referring tothe drawings7 Fig. 1 is a side 5 cylinder. l elevational view showingour'shock absorberV *Y provision of a shock absorbingel'ementwhich Fig.-2is a vmedial elevationalcross-sectional is adaptedito permit relatively freemovement View of ithe shock" kabsorber cylinder and of the vehicle relative to itsl aXle VWhen such (piston.

c 10 motion4 isslow butvwhichlpresents to shocks, Fig. S'isa cross-sectional*plan-viewtaken.'

15 and fluid pressure.

Ajolts,orotherrelatively-quick movements be-V on the lines -eofFigf 2. j

tween these parts, areslstance Which depends Y Figli isa 'crosssectional view taken on the i upon the severityofthe shock and' Whichi's linesAC-i of Fig.V 2..' f :Y controlled'by the combined effects Vof inertia f Fig. 5 is a View of amodiiied form of piston Another vobject our' invention 'is the pro-V Referring to F'gsrl and 2,110 indicates' in Vision of ashock'absorber piston and cylin its entirety our shock absorbing'-element,`11

der including a Apiston resiliently supported indicates lthe chassis of a vehicle to which it is upon a pistonrodysaid piston having ports applied,v12f'indicates anraXle or other unsf '20 and saidpiston rod havinggvalvesactuated sprung p'art'of a vehicle, and-13 indicatesv a 70?* when said pistonlags behindsaid piston rod `spring ot any type-connected in the'l usual in such manner .that-the shock absorbing'acs V manner between the chassis Yand aigle.` The tion is controlled both by :the inertia of `the shockabsorbing element- 10 may be supported piston and by they building up of .pressurej 'upon'the axle or chassis,2 preferablythe latupon 'the piston dependingupo-n ythe-relative ter; and llliindic'ates in 'itsentirety the conspeed 'and severity of the shockan'd thead y riecting mechanism betweenthe shock absorbjustment of'theshock absorber iparts. Ving,element 10 and axle 12.' l

. vAnother object of our invention is theprO-f' V'Refer-ring to Fg. 2, .our shocli absorbing i vision oa shockabsorber piston and cylin-v element- 1O comprisesa receptacleor cylinder '30 der inlivhich Jche parts most likely-to be' sub; 15, an v actuatingelement or piston rod land S0 1 45 mentlbyrelatively quick and continued moi-! Thetermscylinder and.piston, therefore,`

jectedfto Wear may be constructedfwith' a a pressure actuated element or piston 17, re# clearance, the resistance being prov'id'edfby Vsiliently supported upon said actuating elethe passageof udthrgughj-said clearance ment Theshockabsorbingelement may also and other ports'sothat"the-structure of the include "a safety valve 18 andthe necessary shock absorber may'besimplifie'd although connecting levers 19and QQioractua't'ingithe 85' j the device is more eflicient'in cp'ertion, more same. Y s l Y durable, more easilyadjustedand moreecfo- Vhile AWe shall employ'the terms pistoni nomical-than the' devices of'thenprio'r art. a'ndffcylinderv in thedesoriptionof our shock Another object of our invention-slthepro- Yabsorbing element,- We desire to beunderstood vision of a'shock absorbing element Yc 'ontrolledf that theseelementsmay be constructed other-1 9 by the effects of inertia and fluid pressure, Vin- Wise than cylindrical; For instance; the recluding means for adjustment'ofthe relativeY ceptacle might be substantially square in crossA J effect-of the inertia'of thepis'ton and thejef'- f sectiombeing'used Witha pistonof the same feet off'the kfluid pressure'built up inthe -elecross section adapted tolreciprocate therein.

:tion ofthe pistonin eitherdirection. orbothiwherever they are employed throughout the directions.1 Y i* 'e f l f l lspeci'cation and in the claims, are used ina I Other objects and advantages,ofy our inven'-y generic'tsense,"ncluding equivalent elements,

' f tion will appear more'fully fromtheiolloyvn Vwhatever theircrosssectionmay be.

ing v.description and from the accompanying Thecylinder 1 5*maycompriseV a-castfmetalfl 3.2: and may be; hollovved out.

member, preferably of cylindrical shape for convenience in construction, and adapted to receive the piston 17 also of cylindrical exterior shape and adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder. Y

The piston 17 may consist of a cast metal member formed with ring 2.1 at, each. end, the rings 21 being connected together by a, pine rality of longitudinal Webs 22. The rings: 21 are formed with apertures or ports 23, preferably centrallyy loc-ated therein, andthe interior of the piston V17 maybe hollow, the piston consisting primarily of the rings 21, webs 22 and a collar 24., Y

The collar 24 may be cast integrally with the. balance @ff the; pistoni?. being snp.-

port'ed midway; betWeenthe--ri-ngs: 2-1 upon the webs 22 and being formed with; a Yceri-eralv boref2-5radapted to receiazetle-piston rod 1G;

. witlttlie; necessary clearance to.;4 avoid injfnry to the threads. The collar may also` be. fllllfl; Wfll mme; for; supporti-ng V01.19.701' more springs,comprising"a pairi of annular grooves 26 in which the springs 27 28- Hmy be'CeY'd; addition tozsupporting the collar 24 and rings2l,tlie Webs v22; provide sinnothjgnides tor-the valvesi32 andi 33, described in detail hereinater.; y

V'lhe rings21 may' be; formed-With an interior rounded surface 29:- tapering from; the' ports` 2 3 toward; the; insi ef edges: Siret; the ringsLafndethewezgterior'sui e231; of the rings 2-13 may be substantiallyn cyl-indrioal;A Howeverinthe-operation of 01.111: device We conteniplategleakage past thepiston; t7; at, aljl times. Itis-.not necessary toiiormthe pistoni 17 or its rings 21;. to. fiti thev cylinder llvery closelyvariation tlie clearance; between; threpstOIl. andi cylin den can:I readily be' taken carev Offiby adiufbmrento ythefvalves .32 and 38;*urther-sto; bei deserbed.,

The piston rod lfi-spreiierably: threaded throughout *its .1 lengthrwithin the; piston. 21 and. 6119; piston; rods. 16.- supports; a pair.; of Valves 32,:and' 83,:k Bythreading-the valves 32 and 33; upon; the; piston: rod; 163 and; providing lOGlL'DEUS.` 34g' and 35., thesevalvesaare readily adjnsteflupon the piston rod:- to; vary. lthe. amount of opening between each-Naive and its ring` 2,1; andi to varyv the eects produced, as will be further described.

The valves; 32' aindf mayv bef dat but are preferably made with: an. exterior surfacej 36 like thel frustum; of a; cone having its upper surface 37 liattenedi about its: threaded bore 38;.in; orden toxbe engagedzbyfthe lockinut 34'.- 012'35.:

The outer@edgef39 of the valves maybe made substantially cylindricaliand the .valve should preferably be.. ot suelr si`ze;tl1atit will: slide within theV Webs or.l guidesc22, justy clearing theports,.elosingretlier of said ports.

lnorder to savefspaceor adj.ustment"uponV the piston nodg. the=interior140 ofV the valves suiliciently to j receive the lock nuts 42 and 43 employed with the collars 44 and 45.

` The collars 44 and 45 comprise cup-shaped metal members having a central threaded bore 46 by means of Which the collars may be supported and adjusted upon the piston rod 16. The shape of the'collars 44 and45 may be somewhat si-niilarto thatofthe valvesy 32 and 33v except thatithe interior v47 is made slightly larger to accommodate the springs 27 and 28. The annular Walls-48`upont1fe collars 44 and 45 are-adapted to retain the springs 27 and 28 in tli'efposition shown in Fig. 2.

The springs 27 and 28 comprise helical' springs ofresilientfmetal of sufficient size to( beI received inthe annular grooves26;Y oit-lie collar*` 24 and in the cup-sh'apedV apertnre47 ofA the colla-rs 44 and-245C.y The springs-27andf. 28am; compressed., aga-inst? the collar or; support 24 by the collars 44 and 45, thel latter beingV retained inaadjnstediposition by their lookin-nts42andr 43. klt'wilfltlius be observed that the-piston rod- 16 is adapted to reciproiy cate: relative to the pistoni 157? by compressing oneorthe-zfother ot the springs 27 andl 28faznd` tliepistolelf L7 is vresiliently supportedfuponf the@ piston; rodfl, Sushi, relative motinrr be tweentbe piston rod 16. and the; piston 1-7 mustV also; result., the size: of, `the aperture between one of thetvalv'esy 321or38 andi its port 28T.E The` completeoperation of thesepaintsl will be described h'ereinater. Y

In ordergtol limi-tV the.A movement ot the, valves 32, and S'Spvve provide;stopfmembers upon eitherl or;v bntlf. sidesxoffjthze 'collar 24.

'llhese stop; membersI inay'; consist of aV pair of.

side of; thev oollar 24, eachnut49beingproividediwitl'ij-a loclenuttl to retain it inf. ad- Y j usted position., i y It Will-1.x thusbefobserved that,` as thapistonirod 16a-and valvef'move upward to closef thefuppen aperture 23', this mntiong. relative tov the pistonL 17 and itscollan 24;.Will be limited by. the; stop.' or 1 nut 49' hitting; the' collarv 245,V While the motion; ofi' this valve in the.oppositefdirection will be limited by' the Y stop 49on.tlie oppositesideoi the collar 24.I

rlhe novel' pistonand cylinder soI far described may be. employed -witlr actuating piston rodfinay be, extended through an ordinary bushingv orl packing, adaped to provide;y Huid? tight jointV aboutV a reciprocating,rod.y Howevenwve prefer to employy such; connecting.- Inecha-ni'sin that-the moving parl; projecting;fromqthefcylindercasv ingfhas a=rotaryfmovement instead. of; areciprooating n iovenrrente so that the,` packing; and associated' Pants-may 'bei made-v moref durable.

The-piston rodfvilamay be pivotallyconf nectedtoaconnec ing;linlrl)'bysapinil ot i anyV standard'construction;and haningaibush ing 52 of'antifriction metal.V v A connecting.

link 119 maylikewisesbelpivotedtor crank arm 2O by4V a similiar; pin- 53 vhaving afsimil'ar bushing-'52. 'i A Y .Y

strength of the spring`i70 shouldbelsuch as.

k54 by a key mayextendfrom'the cylinder casing as at 55a forconn'ection to the exterior connecting mechanism 14.' In order to'enclose the 'foregoingmechanism, the cylinder 15 may be pro-1' Vvided with an enlargement 56 atV its upper end, havingfanfaperture `57 in onel side to receive a bearing 58f and having another bearing ,59' -cast integrallyin 'the opposite side.

The top yof thecylinder 15 may be formed with an aperture 60 and the aperture 60 may be closed with a lco-ve'r61' outwardly curved as at y62 to provide sufficient room` for the movementof thecr'ank "20. vThe joint be tweenthe cover 61 andthe cylinder 15 may be formedfwith aiplurality of surfaces'j63, 64 and 65 atright angles to each other lin order mayfbe'bolted or-otherwis`e secured tothe cylinder, 15. 'j "5f- '51 y Y The cyli der 15 may also be provided with a conduit-66 extending-@from below the pisyto providea-'luid tight joint, andy thel c'a'p 61V f iton 17 to a bore 67 Yopening'above saidipismay be of ylargerfvsize Y the port 68. I s

, ton.; The bore-67 and conduit 66vmay also communicate'with a port 68 opening'fabove the piston' v17 and thebore k67 is providedl "with ajval've 69. The bore 67 and valve 69 than the lconduit 66, thereby providing" a stop --or vshoulder 7 3 against which the valvel 69 may rest, closing The valve-69 may be' of substantially cup shape, adaptedVtQ-rece'ive La vcompression fspring 70 oficon'si'derable strength, and the spring 70 may be compressed against the upper end of the vbore i also have a centralpin 72 to retain the spring f ing theshock ditions `when the wheels of the vehicle strike to permit 70v in place.

The purpose ofthe safety valve 18' is to `'prevent breakage of the mechanism composarbsorber under abnormal conanV unusually large obstruction, vand the v the Valve 69 to be lifted, opening the port68 at' some point just before the criticalVv point at which'the mechanism would break.A f y,

*The connecting prise a connecting rodv 74 having Vball andA end; The shock j socket connections 75 at veach [absorber cylinder 15may besecuredto vthe beprovided with'an-annularattachingiiange 'Y 1 '.65

chassis `11 by a plurality ofbolts passing Vthrough an integral bracket76 lon the cylinder casing. The y outer end 7 7, being adapted to rx'eceiveray erankarm 78 having a square aperture-79;V 1 The crank arm 78 may be retained upon the shaft by a nutl 8,0.-and a .conventional shaft 54may 81ar1d the [bearing Vmay y'be'v secured 1n f the 'terbor'e 84 compressing the packing 85,

mechanism k14 may com-V shaft'54 maybe 'squared and ta#V and 28,.

bore r-57 'by ia" plurality-of bolts or f other fasi shaft 54 quite closely and withha' counter-Y bore 83 adaptedV to receive thevpacking. of

- asbestos or other material.

The bearing 58-is also provided with a Y gland 86 adapted to reciprocatein the counand with a cap 87'threaded on the bearing 58 to compress thecgland and packing. .The opposed surfaces of the glandy 86 and jcounter bore 84 maybe beveled as shown to compress the packing against the-shaft 54.

The crank armv 78 is connected'tothe connecting rod 74`b`yits upper universal-joint 75 and the lower end ofthe connecting rod 74 is `attached fto, the .axle 12 by means. of .a

bracket 88.which forms a part of the uni? versal joint 75.V .v g l Y. Y I While the cylinder 15 may be operated with any fluid `or any i gas, inl order vto reduce 'the parts, we prefer to use aV relatively non-compressibleliquid, such as glycerine, and the cylinder casing 15 andcap 61 with' liquid.

From the foregoing description, it .is

, size ofthe shock Vabsorber andA increase'thel amount of'possible' clearance between the.

thoughtthat the assembly of these parts will be obvious to one' skilledvrin the art.r` The operation of our inventionv is as follows:

vVV-henthe yvehicle strikes a vbump or other irregularity in the road andthe axle 12V approachesthe chassis 11, the crank 78 will be Vrotated in a clockwise. directionin Figl,

by `the connecting rod`7 4, rotating the shaft 54. and the crank 20. The piston ro'd16,beV

.ing connected'to the crank 2O bythe link 1 9, will naturally 'follow theV movements of lsaid 1 cranlgtending to'moveV the piston 17 which is resiliently supported'upon .the pistonY rod V16. v Y Y .During theffirst movement of the'piston rod downward,`which'we shall call thebound the fluid below thepiston willtheport 23'at the lower .endy through the hollowportionsof ofthe spring, pass rthrough ofthe piston, thepiston, and out the upper port23.' Dur-` ing Nthis "motion,

pressure will' be generated'.

inthe space belowthe piston, such pressure l reacting against thelower surface.'4 ofthe piston ring21 and tending to cause the piston` v17 to lag which it Vmay n .on the rod 16 by thesprings 27 Y Y The spring27 will thus be coinv A pressed and thelower port23 will become..

behind the motion of the rod V16, dofsince the piston is resiliently supported the upper port `23 vwill slightly closed, while j Itjwill thus be evident be .opened further.

thatlwhen pressure is Vgenerated in the'space.y

below lthe piston',thispressureltendsto close.-Y I

the lower-pcrt 23 increasing the restriction,- i "which,1nturn,'1ncreases the pressure', resultton. Y Y. .Y We desire to be understood, however, that in greater restriction until the movement othe piston. is limited; by the stop L,M9-abovethe collar 2%. U l y ln. any event, the effect of the-generation ot pressure is. cumulative so that, the shock ab.-

sorber tends to cheek the bound of the veV hicleA inY the shortest. possible time. En a similar manner,l upon the rebound, of the spring 13 downward, the cranks I8 and 20 will rotate counterclockwise,lifting the piston rod116 and tending to compress theluidV above the piston 17. Undercertain con-di tions,V the YsameV results previously described may take place in order toV check theV rebound to cause Vthe closing ot the ports 23. Vhus.

under ordinary conditions, theI shoelrsmay be taken care oi by the springs 13'", the-shock absorber serving merely to slightly dampen the movement of the springs,4 due tothe friction caused lby the movement of the Aiuid through the piston.

Als the pressure generated above and below thepiston depends uponthe speed with which the piston moves, it will be evident.thatr upon relatively quick movementsl of the pistongrod 16, a relatively great press-ureawillbe pro-` duced and the piston will'eomrpress one or otlier'ot the springs, tending to; close one or other or the ports and toehook the movement.

lt. should also be noted that the relative amount of restriction at either of the ports may be governed in part bythe eect, of inertia of thepiston 1T whenever the piston rod 10 is accelerated; Under such conditions, the piston 17, Vif constructed with consider'- able mass, will tend: to preserve its state of rest or uniform motion, laggingA behind the piston rod 16 and coinpressingone or:v other of the springs 2 and 28'. This inertia elijeetywill also'tend to close one or other of the ports 23, thereby increasing the restrictions-nd tending to build up a pressure at the 'corresponding end of the Vpiston 17; Theyarnount of' this pressure and the-checking effect of the.

shock absorber may depend' upon both the inl ertia of the piston and upon the building up of the pressure due to the motion ofthe pisi the strength ofthe springs 2,7 andV 28 may be made suicient and the mass oi thev'piston suiiciently small so that the efifectsof inertia may be. eliminated, if desired" The wide rangeoi adjustment providedby thethread- Y. ed rod; l'iscapableo permitting the adjust- Acolla-r 92 has an enlarged l 95 may be--threaded Y The i:

stand the strains.

While Vwe have shown i an embodiment which is adapted to cheeitthe shoclg-.botlron the bound: and reboundgw desire to be, un derstood that ourdevicej may alsobe used for checking shocks in but'one directiongonily.

l? or this purpose, one valve maybe so adjusted that it will not restrict its port 23 under any conditions. Y p

We donot desire to be limitedtothe precise construction or location offsprings set forth Y springs of widely varying shapes may be employed. l v Y Y Referring to Fig, 5, we have here shown a inodiiiedform of shock absorber, comprising a cylinder 90 having av piston rodi 91; The piston rod 91 supports a threadedxcollar92 by means of a'pair of leek nuts 93 and.' the thread 94 upon which a spring spring is thereby supported any adjusted position on the piston-rod 9 1. i

The piston rodl 91' may alsosupport a pair oi cams 96 threaded thereon and. secured by means of lock nuts 97. The friction mechanisin in this embodiment comprises a. plurality of segmental members 98 and 99 of substantially U cross section and adapted to'fit' together to form a substantially cylindrical. casing about the spring 95.V` Y

' There may be any number of the members 98 and 99 but these members are preferablyV of similar size andv shape. The cylindrical casing formed by surfaces 1:01. extending from said apertures about the cams 96. The @amusing-surfaces 101 are preferablyv of the'shape offa` rustum of a cone and-as; either ot the cams 96 moves into its cam-nungV surface 1015 the segmental shoes 98 and99 aretorced7 apart intoengagement with the cylinder 90. i

the members 98andf.99 has an aperture at 100 Vat each end and camming The segmental kshoes .9.8 and99- are formed with al pair of annular flangesl-OQJ; and 103,

deii'ning a groove 104 adapted to receive a band 105 et. brake lining or other heat and friction resisting materialef It will".Y thus be observed that therpiston rody 91 moves.V Vthe segmental shoes- 99fmaylag Vbehind. the

piston rod, saidshoes are. cannned, apart f .ment provided enables the adaptation of our by one of the Ycamsgli bringing ythe brake band 105 into engagement With the cylinders and checking theshock.

Theother mechanism of the shock absorber may be substantially Vthe vsame as that pre- 'l viously shown but no fluid need be employed.

, It Will thus beobserved that We have in- .vented a shock absorberin which the shock V- absorbingrefl'ect may be determined by the Vbuilding up of fluid pressure, due to a restricted opening, and in which the pressure built up tends to increase the restriction.

' v Our shock absorber is also adapted to utilize the effects of inertia of theresiliently supported 4piston and tlie Wide range ofp-adjustshock absorber to vehicles of Widely varying Y l many modifications l. departing and We do not characteristics. `While lWe have illustrated' and described a preferred embodiment 'of our invention, may be made Without from the spirit Aof Ythe invention, Wish to be limited to the pres oisev details set forth but desire to avail vourselves'of all changes Within the scope of the appended claims. n Having thus described our invention, What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letva cylinder With l a cylinder with ters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. In a rshock absorber, the combination of f Y* VweSupported on said piston rod for closing said port andrstop means for determining *thev range of motion of said valve.

3. In ashock absorber, the combinationof a piston having a bore through the saine, afluid in'said'cylinder, a piston rod passing through said bore, a pair of shoulders carried by said piston rod, and a spring tensioned bef tween each shoulder land', one of said collars, and v alvefineans carried by said piston rod adjacent each endof said bore. y

'4. In a shock absorber, the combination of afluid in said cylinder, a pist-on rod, a piston in said cylinder, said piston comprising -a central ports, and means for connecting said rings, spring means supporting saidypiston on vsaid;` rod, and conical valves carried by saidprod-inside each of said ports.

Y V5. Ina shock absorber,

a cylinder withy a fluid in said` cylinder, al

rin Us `spring means.` f

the cambiamos ef piston rod, a'piston in said cylinder,'lsaid'pisl ton comprising a pair of rings having central ports, and means' be, spring means supporting said piston on said rod, conical valves carried by said rod inside each of said ports', andl guide means carried by said piston` about said rod.

6. yIn al shock absorber, the combination of av cylinder yWith a Huid in `said cylinder, apiston rod, a piston in said cylinder, said lpiston coinprisinga pair lof rings-having and means for connecting said e Central ports, rings,y spring means supporting said kpiston on said`.rod, conical valves carried by .said rod inside each of said ports, guide means carried by said pistonabout said rod, and means .for adjusting the .tension of 7. In la shock absorber, the combination of a lcylinder with a fluid in said cylinder, a-

piston rod, a piston in said cylinder, said pistonrconiprising a pair of rings having central ports, and means rod, conical valves carriedk by said rod iiiside each oi' said ports, .guide means carried jby said` piston about said rod, means for`ad of said spring means, andv adjustable stop meansfor said valves'. y

justing the tension 8. Iny a shock absorber, the combination of a fluid iii said cylinder, a piston a cylinder,

a piston rod, resilient means in said cylinder,

l"connecting said piston and rod, valve means carried by said rod and actuated either by- `increase ofpressure on said piston or dueto inertia of said piston, and a safety valve for said cylinder adapted to open and. permit passage of fluid under abnormal pressure.

' lIn Witness-WhereonI hereunto subscribe my namethis 26th day of June, 1927.

ERIK FLOOR.

' In- Witness whereof, yI hereunto'subscribc lmy naine this 1st day ofJuly', 1927. Y

- v 'EJNAR SE'JERSEN.

l Y j iio ysaid piston rin' said'y bore, a` pair of adjustable collars carried by pair of ringsy having .f

Y iso for connecting said rings,r springl means supportingsaid piston on "sa-id for connecting said said l j ioo 

